ESPY 2024 Winners: Awards Results, Recap, Top Moments and Twitter Reaction
July 12, 2024
The 2024 ESPYs are taking place on Thursday night, with ESPN's annual awards show occurring at Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
Team and athletes from across the sports world will be recognized for their performances throughout the past year. Tennis legend Serena Williams is hosting the event, which will also feature award presentations from other notable athletes such as Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green and UConn standout guard Paige Bueckers.
Here's a look at the 2024 award winners as they're announced. The full list can be found here.
2024 ESPYs Winners
- Best Team: South Carolina Women's Basketball
- Best Athlete, Women's Sports: A'ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces
- Best Athlete, Men's Sports: Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs
- Best Breakthrough Athlete: JuJu Watkins, USC Basketball
- Best Championship Performance: Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics
- Best NFL Player: Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs
- Best NBA Player: Luka Dončić, Dallas Mavericks
- Best WNBA Player: A'ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces
- Best College Athlete, Women's Sports: Caitlin Clark, Iowa Basketball
- Best Athlete with a Disability: Brenna Huckaby, Snowboarding
- Best MLB Player: Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Dodgers
- Best Driver: Max Verstappen, F1
- Best Play: Lamar Jackson catching his own pass vs. the Kansas City Chiefs
- Best Record-Breaking Performance: Caitlin Clark, Iowa Basketball
Special Accolade Winners
- Arthur Ashe Award for Courage: Steve Gleason, former NFL safety
- Jimmy V Award for Perseverance: Dawn Staley, South Carolina head coach
- Pat Tillman Award for Service: Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex
- Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award: Maui Surfing Community
Top Moments and Reaction
Ciara opened up the show with a performance before Serena Williams took the stage. In her opening monologue, Williams referenced the song that actor and former ESPYs host Jamie Foxx played for her during the 2004 awards.
ESPYS @ESPYS"I miss you Jamie. You never had a shot." <a href="https://twitter.com/serenawilliams?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@serenawilliams</a> had to remix <a href="https://twitter.com/iamjamiefoxx?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@iamjamiefoxx</a>'s 'Tennis Ball' song dedicated to her 😂 <a href="https://t.co/ejnacsz8MZ">pic.twitter.com/ejnacsz8MZ</a>
The ESPYs also recognized accomplishments in the sports world that occurred off the field. Duke of Sussex Prince Harry received the Pat Tillman Award for Service, founding The Invictus Games.
The Invictus Games is an international multi-sport event for wounded, injured, and sick servicemen and women. The platform supports veterans and those that are still serving.
ESPN @espnPrince Harry is the recipient of the Pat Tillman Award for Service.<br><br>The Duke of Sussex founded The Invictus Games, an international platform that supports wounded, injured, and sick servicemen and women who are navigating both physical and invisible injuries. <a href="https://t.co/M3F3Rmft4j">pic.twitter.com/M3F3Rmft4j</a>
South Carolina women's basketball head coach Dawn Staley was the recipient of the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance for her work in advocating for cancer research and bone marrow donors.
While she won her third national title as head coach for the Gamecocks in 2024, Staley was also recognized for her work off the court. She helped organize an exhibition game against Rutgers in Oct. 2023 that raised funds for a non-profit organization that provided financial assistance to women battling breast cancer as well as their families.
ESPN @espn"If they can stand strong in the rings with unwavering bravery and go toe to toe with only faith as their armor ... how can I not?"<br><br>Dawn Staley accepts the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance 👏<br><br>Join the fight with the <a href="https://twitter.com/TheVFoundation?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TheVFoundation</a> here: <a href="https://t.co/1ZqRiuZrHF">https://t.co/1ZqRiuZrHF</a> <a href="https://t.co/p7FmNmIOxU">pic.twitter.com/p7FmNmIOxU</a>
NCAA March Madness @MarchMadnessWBBCongrats, <a href="https://twitter.com/dawnstaley?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@dawnstaley</a>, on receiving the 2024 <a href="https://twitter.com/TheVFoundation?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TheVFoundation</a> Award for Perseverance, for her work in advocating for cancer research and bone marrow donors.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NCAAWBB?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NCAAWBB</a> x <a href="https://twitter.com/GamecockWBB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GamecockWBB</a> <a href="https://t.co/pzd99lEaGX">pic.twitter.com/pzd99lEaGX</a>
Michael Landers @NCBulldogsADDawn Staley is a legend. Not as a player. Not as a coach. But as a person. She just gets it. She has a platform. And she knows how to use it for good. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Respect?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Respect</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BiggerThanTheGame?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BiggerThanTheGame</a> <a href="https://t.co/sXywt7qpjt">pic.twitter.com/sXywt7qpjt</a>
Kerry Tharp @Kerry_TharpIncredible message tonight by <a href="https://twitter.com/dawnstaley?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@dawnstaley</a> who was honored with the Jimmy V Perseverance Award at tonight's <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPYS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ESPYS</a> <a href="https://t.co/5nmIm89LsT">pic.twitter.com/5nmIm89LsT</a>
Former New Orleans Saints safety Steve Gleason received the 2024 Arthur Ashe Courage Award.
Gleason, who was diagnosed with ALS in 2011, founded the nonprofit Team Gleason Foundation to help others living with ALS. He was previously awarded with a Congressional Gold Medal in 2019 for his contributions to ALS awareness.
"Over the past 13 years, I've been documenting our journey with ALS," Gleason wrote on an Instagram post prior to Thursday's event. "My aim has always been to see if we can discover peace and freedom with a love of Life, in the midst of extreme adversity. Being recognized at The 2024 ESPYS is not just an honor, but a powerful platform to further help and serve others. Thank you, ESPN, for this incredible accolade."
Brendan Sugrue @BrendanSugrueI remember when <a href="https://twitter.com/SteveGleason?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SteveGleason</a> was diagnosed with ALS. A few years later, I couldn't believe how much he persevered. 13 years later and I'm still so inspired by his story. What an incredible person.
Patrick Mahomes secured his second straight Best Athlete, Men's Sports award on Thursday night. Mahomes helped lead the Chiefs to a second consecutive Super Bowl victory, passing for 1,051 yards and six touchdowns compared to just one interception in four playoff games.
Although the 28-year-old wasn't able to receive the honor in person, Kansas City head coach Andy Reid accepted the award on his behalf.
Patrick Mahomes II @PatrickMahomesIncredible athletes across the board in this category. Blessed and honored to bring home this award again. thanks to the fans and <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPYS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ESPYS</a> 🙏<br><br>Big dawg Andy crushed too <a href="https://t.co/Cb9dtOW7au">https://t.co/Cb9dtOW7au</a>
A'ja Wilson earned the Best Athlete, Women's Sports award after the Las Vegas Aces star earned her second consecutive Defensive Player of the Year honor in 2023.
Wilson helped the Aces win their second straight title in 2023 and has already gotten off to a hot start in 2024, averaging 26.9 points and 11.3 rebounds per game through her first 21 appearances.
Front Office Sports @FOSA'ja Wilson since May:<br><br>• Has led the WNBA in points<br>• Signed a multi-year deal with Gatorade<br>• Announced a signature shoe with Nike<br>• Named an All-Star for the 6th time<br>• Unveiled on a cover of NBA 2K<br>• Just won the ESPY for Best Athlete: Women's Sports <a href="https://t.co/FOQrQf4VIN">pic.twitter.com/FOQrQf4VIN</a>
WNBA Universe @wnbauniverseA'ja Wilson wins the ESPY for Best Athlete in Women's Sports! <br><br>The greatest player in the world adds to her resume 💫<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WNBA?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WNBA</a> <a href="https://t.co/0ygqpbYnpP">pic.twitter.com/0ygqpbYnpP</a>
Staley's South Carolina squad earned some more recognition on Thursday night, winning the best team award after the Gamecocks secured their second national title over the past three years with an unbeaten season.